You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2452 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 York, NY 10174 • 1-800-222-5551 Add A Taste Of Australia To Your Grilling (NAPSA)—Have you ever added a splash of wine that you were drinking to a marinade? If so, you are grilling outdoors just the way they do in Australia. Here are some tips from sixth-generation Australian winemaker, Scott McWilliam: • First, remember the key to great grilling is sustained heat. • Next, use the same wine you drink in your recipes and marinade. It’s the perfect match that will enhance the flavor and intensity of the recipe while eliminating concerns about wine pairings. Creating a savory summer marinade may be easier than ever this year. “The intense weather conditions in Australia this past year will bring a difference in flavors from the previous year’s harvest,” said McWilliam, of McWilliam’s Wines, the most awarded winery in Australia. He added, “There will be big, bold red wines coming from our Southern Australia wineries, while out in Western Australia the harvest is such that wineries there will be producing exceptionally elegant and savory white wines.” Scott is always looking to bring together great food to complement his award-winning wine and he suggests adding a taste of Australia to your meal today. Try one of Scott’s favorite recipes and bring an Australian feel to your next barbecue as well as your glass: Blackberry Cabernet Marinated Steaks Prep time: 15 minutes; Marinate time: Several hours to 2 days; Cook time: 10 minutes 3 ⁄4 cup McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 11⁄2 cups fresh blackberries, crushed For a meal that’s the berries, consider throwing a steak marinated in blackberries steeped in quality Australian wine on your grill. 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper to taste 4 grilling steaks such as New York, rib-eye or tenderloin Chopped fresh basil (optional garnish) Stir together wine, blackberries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, salt and pepper in a resealable plastic bag. Remove 1 ⁄2 cup marinade and set aside. Place steaks in bag; seal and refrigerate steaks and reserved marinade for several hours or up to 2 days. Remove steaks from marinade and discard contents of bag. Grill steaks over medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked to your liking. Remove from grill; spoon reserved marinade over top and sprinkle with chopped basil. Serves 4. Pair with the same Cabernet Sauvignon used in the marinade. Know More About A Deadly Silent Disease (NAPSA)—Atherosclerosis— also known as hardening of the arteries—is often a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. Yet atherosclerosis is the primary cause of coronary heart disease and stroke. Those conditions kill more Americans each year than all cancers combined. That’s why it is important to work with your doctor to identify your risk factors. While the disease is silent, its cost speaks volumes. It’s estimated that treating coronary heart disease and stroke costs $221.9 billion annually. High cholesterol is the leading cause of atherosclerosis. When there’s too much cholesterol in the blood, it can build up in the walls of the arteries and form plaque. Over time, plaque can harden, clog and narrow your arteries, causing a heart attack or stroke. Some other risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. Family history can also play a role. If changes in lifestyle don’t reduce your risk, your doctor may re co mme nd one o r more drugs designed to slow, or sometimes even reverse, the effects of atherosclerosis. Some common choices include cholesterol lowering medications—such as statins; antiplatelet medications and anticoagulants designed to reduce clotting; and medications to control blood pressure. To learn more visit www. SeniorsForCures.org and download a copy of What You Need to Know About Atherosclerosis. Speed Clean Your Way To A Healthier Home (NAPSA)—To keep your home healthy, says Dr. Jim Sears, pediatrician and co-host of the new TV show “The Doctors,” sporadic cleaning is not enough. “Regular disinfection is the best defense,” says Dr. Sears. “While cleaning removes the dust and debris that have settled on a surface, disinfection eliminates the hidden germs that can make your family sick.” Fortunately, helping protect your family from germs doesn’t have to be a chore. Dr. Sears has time-saving tips and techniques for busy families that don’t want to lose precious time with the ones they love. Know Where Germs Are Hiding Germs often lurk in what appear to be the cleanest places in the home. A recent study found that the germ most commonly responsible for serious staph infections was found in 26 percent of bathtubs versus 6 percent of garbage cans. Keep Supplies Organized Store all your tools for cleaning and disinfection in a portable caddy to help you quickly and conveniently move from room to room. Never Go Around A Room Twice Start in one corner and work your way around to the other end. Go from the top of the room to the bottom in an orderly fashion to avoid having to retouch what you’ve already cleaned. Kill Germs With The Swipe Of A Wipe A recent survey by the Hygiene Council found that four out of 10 Americans admitted to regularly cleaning their kitchen surfaces with a dish towel or sponge, both of which can harbor and spread bac- teria. Prevent the spread of bacteria and speed up cleaning by using premoistened disinfecting wipes to quickly and effectively kill germs. Store disinfecting wipes around the house as they are convenient for routine touch-ups. Rally The Troops To Conquer Cleaning Get the whole family involved in the cleaning process. After all, toys host a dangerous range of bacteria. Ask your kids to pick out the plastic toys they use most. Then spray or wipe the toys with a disinfectant before rinsing them in warm water. Once the toys airdry, they are ready for play. Cut Down On Germs With Targeted Disinfection Some viruses can survive on commonly touched surfaces for up to a full month. Take 10 minutes a week to disinfect surfaces your family touches every day, including doorknobs, light switches, toilet flush handles, faucets and drains with a powerful disinfectant such as Lysol Disinfectant Spray. For more information about germ hot spots, you can visit the Hygiene Council at www.hygiene council.com or visit www.homesolu tionsnews.us/house for more helpful cleaning tips and techniques.